The Effects of Topographic Factors on Aboveground Biomass Production of Grasslands in the Atacora Mountains in Northwestern Benin

Avohou, Hermane T.; Sinsin, Brice

doi:10.1659/mrd.00028

Cited by 6 publications

(5 citation statements)

References 8 publications

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“…The rainfall distribution in the area is uni-modal and lasts from May to October [39]. Annual rainfall ranges from 800 mm to 1100 mm [40], while the mean monthly temperature for the past 35 years has ranged between 25 °C and 30 °C [41].…”

Section: Study Areamentioning

confidence: 99%

Integration of Optical and Synthetic Aperture Radar Imagery for Improving Crop Mapping in Northwestern Benin, West Africa

et al. 2014

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Crop mapping in West Africa is challenging, due to the unavailability of adequate satellite images (as a result of excessive cloud cover), small agricultural fields and a heterogeneous landscape. To address this challenge, we integrated high spatial resolution multi-temporal optical (RapidEye) and dual polarized (VV/VH) SAR (TerraSAR-X) data to map crops and crop groups in northwestern Benin using the random forest classification algorithm. The overall goal was to ascertain the contribution of the SAR data to crop mapping in the region. A per-pixel classification result was overlaid with vector field boundaries derived from image segmentation, and a crop type was determined for each field based on the modal class within the field. A per-field accuracy assessment was conducted by comparing the final classification result with reference data derived from a field campaign. Results indicate that the integration of RapidEye and TerraSAR-X data improved classification accuracy by 10%-15% over the use of RapidEye only. The VV polarization was found to better discriminate crop types than the VH polarization. The research has shown that if optical and SAR data are available for the whole cropping season, classification accuracies of up to 75% are achievable.

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Section: Study Areamentioning

confidence: 99%

Integration of Optical and Synthetic Aperture Radar Imagery for Improving Crop Mapping in Northwestern Benin, West Africa

et al. 2014

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“…An important mountain chain in West Africa extends from Ghana (Akwakpim Hills) to Togo (Mount Togo) and Republic of Benin (Atacora Mountains). In Benin, the chain reaches altitudes of 400-600 m; it is of a high socioeconomic importance (Avohou and Sinsin 2009) and ecological specificity, with the occurrence of 2 endemic Beninese plant species, Thunbergia atacorensis (Acanthaceae) and Ipomoea beninensis (Convolvulaceae) (Akoe `gninou and Lisowski 2004). The Beninese part of the Atacora mountain chain is undergoing soil degradation (Adegbidi et al 1999;Mulder 2000).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Ecological Factors Influencing Physical Soil Degradation in the Atacora Mountain Chain in Benin, West Africa

Okou

Assogbadjo

Bachmann

et al. 2014

Mountain Research and Development

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This study analyzed the ecological factors influencing soil degradation in the Atacora Mountains in northern Benin, which harbor two endemic species, Thunbergia atacorensis and Ipomoea beninensis. Data were collected along line transects from plain to summit within 22 plots of 30 m 3 30 m. Indicators of physical soil degradation (extent of organic layer, color of topsoil, compactness of soil, presence and extent of rills, and occurrence of sheet erosion) and environmental factors (canopy and ground cover, topography, occurrence of flooding, and slope) were assessed. Cluster analysis identified 4 soil degradation classes: light, moderate, high, and extreme. Discriminant and multivariate variance analyses identified canopy and ground cover as the 2 main ecological drivers of soil degradation. Plant, litter, and stone cover were found to decrease as soil degradation increased. The parts of the Atacora Mountains with high elevation and steep slope were found to be less degraded than areas with low slopes, which are easily accessible for human activities. Policies to mitigate soil degradation should prioritize practices with low impact on vegetation cover and promote soil protection practices such as tree planting and mulching.

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“…The dry season is marked by the phenomenon of harmattan, the north-easterly dry and hot wind blowing from the Sahara. The topography of the mountain chain includes hilltops and plateaus, valleys, and hillsides with steep slopes (30-60%) (Avohou and Sinsin, 2009). The range of mountains crosses six municipalities, Natitingou, Toucoutouna, Tanguieta, Kerou, Kouande and Boukoumbe and comprises part of the Pendjari Biosphere Reserve (PBR).…”

Section: Study Areamentioning

confidence: 99%

Land Use / Land Cover Change And Impact On Carbon Stocks In The Atacora Chain Of Mountains, A Biodiversity Hotspot In Benin (West Africa)

Moutouama¹,

Kyereh²,

Asante³

et al. 2020

JEES

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Mountain areas are fragile ecosystems that play important roles in people's livelihoods and maintenance of the global ecosystem through the provision of many ecosystem services. Land use/cover (LULC) change is considered one of the major threats to mountain areas due to its effects on ecosystem services including carbon stocks. In this study we assessed LULC change between 1987 and 2015 and its impact on aboveground carbon stocks in the Atacora Chain of Mountains (ACM) in Benin, West Africa. Supervised classification was performed to delineate LULC classes on three dates (1987, 2001 and 2015), and forest measurements carried out in the land cover classes, to estimate the aboveground biomass and the subsequent carbon stocks. Seven land cover classes were delineated: gallery forests, woodlands, savanna, water, settlements, bare lands and farm lands. LULC changes were characterized by three transitions: 1) the change of man-made land cover into savanna, 2) the change of natural vegetation into man-made land cover and 3) the degradation of gallery forests and woodland into less wooded vegetation. The aboveground carbon stock in gallery forests, woodland and tree savanna were significantly greater than in shrub savanna. During the 28 years of assessment, LULC change in gallery forests, woodland and savanna caused an estimated overall aboveground carbon release of 17.10% in the ACM. From the aboveground carbon quantity in the ACM, it appeared that this ecosystem is a potential carbon reservoir. Because the aboveground carbon stock in shrub savanna is significantly lower as compared to gallery forests, woodland and tree savanna and the rates of degradation from gallery forests and woodland to savanna are high, 53.62% and 59.99% respectively in 28 years, LULC change may undermine the ACM ability to store carbon and contribute to climate change mitigation. There is a need to investigate the drivers of this degradation for actions to preserve the natural vegetation in the ACM.

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The Effects of Topographic Factors on Aboveground Biomass Production of Grasslands in the Atacora Mountains in Northwestern Benin

Cited by 6 publications

References 8 publications

Integration of Optical and Synthetic Aperture Radar Imagery for Improving Crop Mapping in Northwestern Benin, West Africa

Integration of Optical and Synthetic Aperture Radar Imagery for Improving Crop Mapping in Northwestern Benin, West Africa

Ecological Factors Influencing Physical Soil Degradation in the Atacora Mountain Chain in Benin, West Africa

Land Use / Land Cover Change And Impact On Carbon Stocks In The Atacora Chain Of Mountains, A Biodiversity Hotspot In Benin (West Africa)

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